North to the Future (Part 1)

As it turns out, moving to Alaska in the middle of January is not the easiest of tasks. We never would have made it had it not been for all of the amazing people who helped us out along the way. We cannot thank you enough!

After three days (the longest I think anyone has ever stayed in Merced by choice) of madly unpacking our storage unit in Merced, California and repacking our two cars, Kevin and I were ready to head north. The fact that we ever made it out of Merced is entirely due to my parents' amazing help. Driving all 3,222 miles on the AlCan (Alaska-Canada Highway) from Merced to Anchorage was a little more than we were willing to attempt in the winter where temperatures of -40 and below are quite common and preparations to winter camp when you car slides off the road are a necessity.

Our vessel, The M/V Malaspina and its namesake, the Malaspina Glacier, Alaska

So instead we headed north to Bellingham, WA to hop on the Alaska Marine Highway, an amazing ferry system that provides service from Washington to Southeast Alaska (and beyond during the summer). During the summer, these ferries are packed with tourists, RV's, and folks camping on the decks. Our fellow passengers on this voyage were in the same boat (heh heh heh) as we were, wondering what the heck we were all doing, moving to Alaska in January. The best surprise was meeting up with our friends Steve and Anne while waiting in line to board. They were returning to Anchorage after spending the fall in New Hampshire and I am not sure if we would have made it to Anchorage without them!

So long to the continental US. Hello to always paying higher shipping rates.

From the AMH Site

Our first day of travel had beautiful weather. Then it started to rain/snow which made hanging out on deck a little more difficult, particularly as they kept warning us to hold on so as not slip overboard. We pulled into Ketchikan, Alaska, our first stop, early on the second morning where the snow/rain/slush had pretty much brought the town to a halt. Kevin and I, eager to get off the boat during our three hour layover, pulled on our Xtra-Tufs and waded around in the slush on our way to scenic downtown. It looks a little different without four cruise ships docked there. Things got a bit more rowdy on board when roughly 50 highschoolers boarded in Ketchikan for an overnight trip home from a speech and debate meet and/or basketball game. Makes the bus ride to Farmington seem kind of dull.

The rest of our journey north was occupied by weaving a climbing rope rug, lots of reading, and creative cooking using a hot pot and a microwave. The clouds finally lifted a bit as we approached the Lynn Canal, north of Juneau, on our way to Haines.

I was particularly fascinated by this lighthouse that seemed to be perched in the middle of nowhere.

Looking south down the Lynn Canal.

Our trusty boat docked in Haines

Part 2 to follow.

PS- "North to the Future" is Alaska's State motto... like I could make that up.